Orlando is a fun destination for the holiday season due to its festive theme park events, pleasant weather, and wide variety of holiday-themed entertainment. One of our favorite things to do in Orlando during the holidays is attend ICE! at Gaylord Palms. Located only minutes away from the theme parks and other top attractions, ICE! is a one-of-a-kind, enchanting holiday tradition that includes ice sculptures, ice slides, and festive lights–all in a 9-degree wonderland. We visit each year and have acquired many tips for how to best experience this unique attraction. Read on to discover what we’ve learned and why ICE! should be on your Florida holiday itinerary!
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WHAT IS ICE! AT GAYLORD PALMS?
ICE! at Gaylord Palms first began in 2001 at Gaylord Opryland Resort in Nashville and premiered at Gaylord Palms Resort in 2003. The exhibit consists of scenes of life-sized ice sculptures hand-carved by approximately forty artisans from Harbin, China, known for its Harbin International Ice and Snow Festival. The highly skilled artisans use various tools such as chisels, saws, and chainsaws but no molds to create the sculptures. It takes the craftsmen approximately 12-14 weeks and two million pounds of ice to complete the exhibit.
Each year the theme of ICE! changes. Themes from previous years include Christmas Around the World, A Christmas Story, The Polar Express, How the Grinch Stole Christmas, A Charlie Brown Christmas, and Elf. The 2025 theme of ICE! at Gaylord Palms is Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.
BASIC INFORMATION AND TIPS FOR VISITING
ICE! begins November 14th and continues daily through January 7th. Tickets must be purchased online ahead of time for a specific date and entry time. Ticket prices vary by date and time of entry and start at $33 for adults. Discounted rates are available as part of bundle deals that include other holiday festivities at Gaylord Palms, and occasionally Gaylord Palms will offer discounted rates for Florida residents and guests staying at the resort. Please note that you must pay to park at Gaylord Palms, and the cost of parking is not included with ICE! admission. Self-parking is $38 per day.
We visit ICE! every year and have gone on a variety of dates, and from our experience, we have found that early in the season (before Thanksgiving) or in the morning on a weekday in the beginning of December are the best times to go because the crowds are lower. Last year we went during the 10am entry time (the first available for the day) on the day before Thanksgiving and there was hardly anyone else there. A couple of years ago we made the mistake of going on the weekend after Thanksgiving, and there was an hour wait just to get inside, even with a reserved entry time.
We recommend dressing very warmly for ICE!. The exhibit is kept at 9 degrees Fahrenheit, and it is COLD. There have been years when I did not bundle up enough and by the end I was rushing to leave because my hands and feet hurt. Gaylord Palms will provide thick blue, hooded parkas before you enter, but we recommend also wearing layers of long pants and long sleeves, as well as thick socks, closed-toe shoes, well-insulated gloves or mittens, a scarf, and a warm cap. If you wear glasses, consider applying anti-fog spray before entering the exhibit to prevent them from fogging up.
If you are from a cold climate, you probably already know how to prepare, but as Floridians who do not own a lot of warm clothing, it took us a couple of visits to figure out how to best dress for ICE!. Gaylord Palms states it will probably take 20-40 minutes to view all the rooms in the exhibit, but you are allowed unlimited time. You don’t want to be like me in previous years and rush through the final rooms because of the cold!
HIGHLIGHTS AND ATTRACTIONS
The ICE! exhibit features ten rooms showcasing scenes from the year’s theme. In 2025, the theme is Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. The intricate, colorful sculptures and displays are definitely a highlight and often contain interactive elements such as ice tunnels you can walk or crawl through.
One of our favorite rooms at ICE! is the ice slide room. This room includes multiple long slides that are two stories high made entirely from ice. They are a lot of fun for both kids and adults!
The last room at ICE! always features a nativity scene, a stunning finale with music and lighting.
ICE! is located in a section of the resort called Alpine Village, a beautifully decorated area which includes additional festive activities you can enjoy once you are done with the ICE! attraction. You can purchase hot chocolate or other delectable treats, decorate gingerbread houses, meet Santa and Mrs. Claus, create a holiday craft at the Elf Training Academy, build and throw snowballs at Snowball Build and Blast, or race on tubes down giant ice slides at Snow Flow Mountain. (Please note that these activities are not included with your ICE! ticket and do cost extra.)
OTHER HOLIDAY EXPERIENCES AT GAYLORD PALMS RESORT
In addition to Alpine Village and ICE!, Gaylord Palms Resort offers a host of other fun holiday activities, many of which are complimentary.
Even if you are not staying at the resort, we recommend walking around after ICE! to enjoy the stunning holiday decorations. Gaylord Palms Resort is an impressive hotel, and the exquisite Christmas decorations provide plenty of photo opportunities.
Some complimentary holiday activities for overnight guests at Gaylord Palms include a Christmas Tree Trail, an interactive kids’ show, and a nightly light show in the atrium. For additional fees, you can also enjoy the Reindeer Games Scavenger Hunt, the Naughty or Nice Escape Room, The Greatest Story Stage Show, and Pomp, Snow, and Cirque-umstance, an exciting and interactive holiday Cirque show.
STAYING AT GAYLORD PALMS RESORT
Gaylord Palms Resort is not the most economical option in the Orlando area, but it is a beautiful, unique hotel and we highly recommend staying there if you have it in the budget. We love how this resort showcases some of Florida’s famous landmarks: a 4.5-acre atrium houses themed areas replicating Key West, the Everglades, and St. Augustine, complete with lush gardens, waterfalls, and wildlife like alligators and turtles. There are also multiple dining options on property, as well as a spa and a waterpark that includes a lazy river, slides, a pool, and a surf simulator. If you are a Marriott Bonvoy member, you can redeem points or free nights since Gaylord Palms is a Marriott property.
If you do decide to stay at Gaylord Palms Resort during the holiday season, we recommend booking an atrium-view room. These rooms all have balconies and provide excellent views of the lush landscaping and the nightly lightshow.
ICE! at Gaylord Palms is a unique, festive, family-friendly attraction and a must-see Florida holiday experience. We hope you add it your Orlando holiday itinerary!
Looking for more activities in the Orlando area? Check out our Central Florida page here!
Sarah
I am the main writer and website designer for Florida Unveiled. I love the parts of Florida visitors don’t often see: the tea-colored water that flows in cypress-laden rivers; the chorus of frogs after a hard rain; the rustle of palmetto as an unseen creature scampers by. Some of my favorite places in Florida are the Everglades, the Keys, Smyrna Dunes Park, Bok Tower Gardens, Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park, and St. Augustine’s Historic District.
